Olivia
I sit still in the darkness and listen. I glance over to Enrico who is fast asleep beside me. He’s been restless all night and has only just drifted off.
Silence.
I slowly get up and tiptoe over to the door. I quietly close it and flick the lock.
My heart is hammering hard in my chest. I stand and listen.
I hear another creak and I know that creak is near the top step.
I run to Enrico. “Wake up.”
“Huh?”
“Someone’s in the house.”
“Huh?”
“I heard the step creak.”
He launches out of bed and grabs a gun from his top drawer. “Get dressed.” He quickly dials a number on his phone.
I look down to see I’m naked.
Shit.
I’m running into my wardrobe when I hear him whisper, “C’è qualcuno in casa.” Translation: Someone’s in the house.
He walks up behind me. “Go into the bathroom and lock the door. Do not come out,” he whispers.
“Yes, let’s go.” I grab my nightgown and run to the bathroom. He hands me a gun.
“Keep the door locked, and if anyone comes in here, don’t ask questions. You shoot to kill.”
“What? Where are you going?” I look down at the gun in my hand with wide eyes. It’s heavy, made of cold, black metal. It’s designed to take a life.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
“What? No, you stay here, too,” I whisper. I grab his arm, suddenly frantic. “Stay here. Don’t you go out there. Please don’t go out there.”
He pushes me into the bathroom and closes the door. “Lock it,” he snaps angrily through the heavy wood.
My face scrunches up and tears fill my eyes as I flick the lock. I begin to pace. Oh my God, what is happening. I hear our bedroom door open and I hold my breath as I listen. My heart is hammering hard in my chest.
I wait… and I wait… and I wait.
Eventually, I hear voices I recognize.
Marley and Maso.
I hear Enrico say something from up the hall. I open the bathroom door and peer around the side of it. What’s happening out there?
“Libero,” someone yells. Translation: Clear.
The house is a hive of activity. There must be ten men inside searching it. I can hear them walking through and banging around.
Enrico comes into the bedroom.
“Why do you have the door unlocked?” he barks.
My face crumbles, and his falls as he sees my tears and my shaking hand holding the heavy guy. I’m a nervous wreck.
“Olivia,” he says softly as he takes the gun from me and wraps me in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He holds me against his chest. “What did you hear?”
“I heard the step creak.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, and I heard the top one creak a few moments later.”
He frowns as he holds me tight.
“What’s going on?” Sergio asks as he comes into the room. “I was in the boathouse and heard the commotion.”
We both turn toward him, surprised. “What are you doing here?” Enrico snaps.
“I was covering a shift for someone who called in sick.”
“Olivia heard something.”
Sergio’s eyes flick to me. “Did you see anyone?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“It’s impossible. Nobody could get in here. We have the place surrounded.”
“Just search the fucking house,” Enrico growls impatiently.
He storms out of the room on a mission.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise to attention.
For some sick reason, my gut instinct sets off an alarm bell.
It was him. Sergio was in the fucking house. I can feel it.
“Why do I think it was him who was in the house?” I whisper.
Enrico frowns down at me, as if surprised by my accusation. “Why would he be in the house?”
“You tell me,” I whisper angrily. “Why is he even here? Didn’t you tell him to leave last night? I don’t trust him at all.”
Enrico glares out the door after him, his jaw clenched, and I know that he’s suspicious, too.
The house is now abuzz with people. Every light is on as they go through and search the rooms one by one. Every now and then I hear someone call to give the all clear in the distance.
I wrap my dressing gown around me tightly. If someone did happen to get in here, they would never be found. This house is as big as a state library.
“I hate this fucking house, Rici,” I whisper. “It’s too big and I don’t feel safe here.” I swipe the terrified tears from my eyes. “There could be fifty people hiding in this house and we wouldn’t even know it.”
Enrico drags his hand down his face, his frustration clear.
“Let’s go to the Milan apartment,” I plead. “Let’s just get in the car and go now.”
“It’s not safe to transfer us both in the middle of the night.”
“Why isn’t safe? Who the fuck is waiting out there?”
“Will you stop fucking cursing?”
“No, I will not! There won’t even be a fucking baby if we’re all dead!” I cry.
“We can’t leave now, Olivia.” He passes the gun back over and walks me to the bed. “Get into bed.”
“With a gun?” I hold it up.
“The house is clear.”
“Then why do I need a fucking gun?” I snap.
“Olivia,” he growls. “Do not fall apart on me now. Tomorrow we can move. For now, we stay here.”
I get into bed, pull the covers over my head, completely furious to be in this position. I can hear men speaking in Italian in the distance and doors being open and shut.
The tears take over.
I just want to be normal.